Diane Warner's Big Book of Parties : Creative Party Planning for Every Occasion

...you've got to be joking. I suppose if you had zero creativity and have never thrown a party before and have no idea where to start, then this would be the book for you. Many of the ideas are just ridiculous and seem to have been thrown in just to fill up space. I found myself laughing out loud many times at the mere thought of actually throwing a party with the suggested theme and elements. There are plenty of other good entertaining books out there with "grown up" ideas. Sorry Diane, but this one is a stinker! This is the most helpful, complete party book ever published. Whether you're throwing a "Teddy Bear Birthday Party", hosting a 50th anniversary gala, celebrating your daughter's Quinceanera, or planning a light-hearted "Tacky Party," you'll find everything you need to make the party special, unique and "theme-appropriate" for the occasion. Although Diane covers the "mechanics" of planning over 175 types of parties, she also helps you develop a heart for your guests, making them - and especially the guest of honor - feel honored and special. She covers the latest trends in party giving, and in a section called "Party Planning 101," she summarizes the general elements that should be considered for every party: etiquette, venues, invitations, ambience, entertainment and more. Also included are seven chapters of party recipes, as well as user-friendly, fill-in-the-blanks planning sheets, to help you stay organized and "on task." This book covers everything from when to send out the invitations to making a list of guests, planning a menu, and creating a theme. There are hundreds of ideas in this book for every kind of party you can imagine. Explains how to plan menus, activities, and decorations for a variety of parties, including birthday parties, engagements, anniversaries, reunions, block parties, bar mitzvahs, graduation, and retirement